3.4. A Software Factory Approach to Enterprise Software Delivery

As we’ve discussed earlier, organizations today face an unparalleled rate of change in their business environments, while at the same time, they’re managing and lowering operating costs across the organization. The direct implication is that they must not only minimize waste and inefficiency but also increase productivity. The software and systems industry is evolving from using a craft-based process focused on individuals to a mature, repeatable process that produces consistent high-quality output but with the flexibility to be adjusted to variances in individual consumer needs.

In defining a software factory approach to enterprise software design, development, and delivery, we can apply key characteristics from the industrial sector to reduce time to market, increase flexibility and agility, and reduce costs, while increasing quality and end-user satisfaction. An integrated approach can help software delivery organizations achieve business agility, collaborate more effectively, and deliver higher quality products and services.